Group Demands Sack of NDDC Boss Ogbuku Over Alleged Links To Timipre Sylva

By Peter Dansu 

The Niger Delta Integrity and Democracy Network (NDIDN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) due to his deep and compromising ties to former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva who is alleged to be involved in coup plot against the President 

Sylva is named as the seventh defendant, marked “still at large,” in a 13-count treason and terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government.

While the case against the ex-Minister continues, the group insists that his close associate should not remain in charge of a sensitive federal agency.

“Dr. Samuel Ogbuku is a well-known political loyalist of Timipre Sylva and reportedly served as his Chief of Staff during his governorship,” Comrade Francis Edafe, National Coordinator of NDIDN, stated in a press release.

“It was this godfather relationship that secured his appointment to head the NDDC.

"At a time when his principal is a fugitive facing grave charges of treason, allowing Ogbuku to control billions of naira meant for Niger Delta development is a dangerous national security risk.”

The group stressed that the connection runs far deeper than politics.

“Richie Imoh Tommy, the brother of Sylva’s wife, is believed to be serving as Personal Assistant to Dr. Samuel Ogbuku," Edafe added.

"This is not a loose association — it is a tight family and patronage network embedded right at the top of the NDDC.

"Such infiltration raises serious questions about whose interests are being protected: the suffering people of the Niger Delta or a network linked to anti-government activities."

Comrade Edafe accused Ogbuku of turning the Commission into what appears to be a personal fiefdom for questionable alliances.

“While communities continue to endure environmental pollution, abandoned projects, and youth unemployment, a man whose inner circle is so intimately tied to a wanted suspect cannot be trusted with public funds."

The statement further highlighted disturbing allegations of financial trails between NDDC contracts and the suspected coup financing.

Reports indicated that military intelligence and agencies like the NFIU and EFCC traced suspicious large sums — including claims of up to ₦45 billion in NDDC-related funds — with links to the plot.

The group further alleged that part of the funds suspected to have been used by ex governor Sylva to procure the violent removal of Mr. President from office, were largely sourced from NDDC which gave billions of naira contract to Okpoama Kingdom coastal protection , a company with strong and undeniable links to Sylva, during that period. 

While Ogbuku and the NDDC management have denied any involvement or arrest, the group argued that these denials are insufficient in the face of grave national security concerns.

The NDIDN warned that Ogbuku’s continued stay in office undermines President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and exposes the region to further underdevelopment and potential instability.

“We demand the immediate sack of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku. A comprehensive forensic audit of all contracts, projects, and financial transactions under his leadership must be launched without delay by the EFCC and security agencies.

"All influences traceable to the Sylva network within the NDDC should be thoroughly investigated and purged,” the statement added.

Edafe urged traditional rulers, youth groups, elders, and stakeholders across the Niger Delta to support this call.

"The NDDC belongs to the people, not to any godfather’s proxy. President Tinubu must act decisively to sanitise this vital institution and demonstrate zero tolerance for compromised leadership,” he concluded.

The group vowed to sustain public advocacy and explore all lawful avenues until concrete action is taken to protect public resources and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Group Commends Reconciliation Efforts Over Property Feud

By Peter Dansu 

A Civil Society Organization, Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, has commended the reconciliation efforts among parties over a disputed property in Maitama District of Abuja.

Two flats in the property located at No 1, Mekong Close, has been a subject of litigation in  the last five years. 

The group, through its Convener,Comrade Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, appealed to parties to sheathe their sword and give room for negotiation. 

According to him, going into full litigation will not benefit anybody as it will further waste time and resources of all parties. 

A lawyer, Victor Giwa alongside his client, Cecil Osakwe and an official of the Nigerian Police Force,  Edith Erhunmuuse, were accused of. Illegal ejection of the occupant of the flats. 

The group commended Justice Samira Bature, of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, who vacated the warrant of arrest issued on Giwa. 

According to the group, the decision of the court will further deepen the recociliation efforts by parties. 

Comrade Joseph said, "We have watched with keen interest, proceedings in this matter in the past few years, we commend the efforts of parties to reconcile and have this matter put behind them once and for all. 

"If there are other ways to have issues sorted out, there is no need to waste hard earnedoney in using governor resources on this matter. 

" We commend the Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, Dr Ahmed Raji, and Mr Joe Agi, for their interventions in this matter which has lingered for many years and spread like "wildfire fire" in the courts. 

"We appreciate you Sirs and we do not take your interventions for granted", he said. 

Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, last week issued an arrest warrant against Giwa and a police official, Edith Erhunmuuse.

They were to be arraigned with another defendant, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

They are in charge and accused of engaging in criminal conduct, involving the forceful eviction of occupants and property damage estimated at N300 million.

Why Govt Should Focus More On Women, Art, Craft And Creative Industry - NEWOMCII

By Peter Dansu 

The Nigerian government has been called upon to focus more on women, art, craft and creative industry. 

The National Coordinator of New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII), Hajia Saadatu Adamu Bokane, a  Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, dedicated to empowering women, youth, and vulnerable communities,  said the country's economy can grow with focus on these areas. 

Hajia Bokane, accompanied by the National Secretary, Mrs Change Osuji, speaking to journalists, ahead of the organisation's National Launch and Book Unveling, slated for Tuesday, April 28, the National Coordinator said NEWOMCII saw a gap that women has the potentials but lack the opportunity, access to resources and information to actualize their potentials. 

According to her, the NGO was registered eight months ago and swung into action August 2025, adding that NGO was conceived by Alhaji Bolaji Raji, the founder and the Chairman of the NGO.

He he said their founder has been involved in charity works before now amd has support for Nigerians privately but felt that he should expand the organisation by coming up with an NGO and that was what led to the establishment of the organisation.

Hajia Bokane said, "He is someone who grew up among aunties, so he acknowleges the role of women in the society. He felt the NGO should be women oriented because women are result oriented. 

"The NGO has two thematic areas, Agriculture and art and creativity.  We felt that that sector of art and culture have been neglected over the years. The contributions of women in  art, craft and creative industry have been so silent for so many years. 

"Nigeria as a nation is supposed to diversify into art, craft and creativity.  There are a lot of funds lying idle in UNESCO and Nigeria is one of the countries contributing to UNESCO and we don't even have the knowlege of what we are supposed to tap into. 

"If we go into the rural areas, even,  before the emergence of white collar jobs, people are training their children and running their daily lives with their indigenous arts and crafts. 

"Women are contributing immensely in that area and most of these women are in the rural areas.  They don't even know how to access facilities and they are contributing silently to the economy. 

" So, we felt that we should touch these categories of people in our society.  If you go deep, back into history, women  are the ones that discovered agriculture. 

"In the two areas of our focus, we have touched about five areas councils in the FCT. We started with FCT because we believed it is the heartbeat of the nation, so, one of our pilot projects kick-started in the FCT.  In the aspect of agric, we have touched a village in Bwari Area Council, where we met women who are into rice and corn farming.  

"They were 45 in number, out of which 20 were widows.  We interviewed them and they said since they started there hasn't been any government intervention and no NGO has ever come to their aid. 

"The only NGO that came only took them to their farms, snap pictures with them and never came back again. We were the first to reach out to them and within 10days, we supplied them with what they needed. They complained of farm implememts to harvest their produce. After providing them with the tools they needed, they were happy and said they've never witnessed that kind of gesture before. 

"We have monitoring and evaluation team, who visited them the second time to ensure that what we supplied to them, they are making good use of it".

She said the organisation also visited a community in Karu, where women were empowered with modern facility to ease their work of art and craft. 

NEWOMCII has been in operation for less than one year and has presence across Nigeria (in all the 36 states + Abuja), and has impactful success stories. 

The organisation focuses on skills development, economic empowerment, and community-based interventions.